The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-27
DEMOCRATIC MISMANAGEMENT.
A Defense Is Finally offered by the Sentinel
by disappearing the Facts.

Without meeting in the least the showing that
has been made of extravaganza and mismanaee-
meut of the States finances by Democratic
officials, the India apolis Sentinel uses what it
represents to be an interview with Auditor of
State Carr "The whole conversation had
with the Sentinel reporter" he said, twas
turned and twisted in its publication to suit the
purposes OF his paper. He came to me and
asked if the figures given by the Journal were
correct. There are the books, / replied, you
can see for yourself The figures are correct in
every instance, and show that last year
the money-$117, 49, 49-that ought to have
been saved to meet the interest due on the
nou-negotiable school bonds Oct. 10 last
applied to meet the current warrants drawn
against a depleted general fund preceding that
date. When the interest fell due there no
money to meet it and the then Auditor and
Treasurer of State had no funds in sight for the
purpose. The only resource left was to take
from the next December revenues the $117, 143. 40
with which pay the interest overdue. This
the Sentinel tries to overcome by misrepresenta-
tons of what was said incidentally in connection
with it.
In further effert to defend the Democratic
officials the reporter went TO exAuditor of State
Rice, who declined to make any statement but
he, IN conversation yesterday, admitted the
correctness of figures, and said that he had
right to use the interest money for general fund
purposes as the interest was paid out of that
fund. In doing SO. however, the Democratic
officials failed to provide for the interest when
due and threw it's payment into the current
fiscal year. The SILT, 143. 40 thus used
of revenues that rightfully
belong TO the general fund of this year. It's
payment reduced the fund that much AND made
necessary the borrowing of $40, 900 last April.
large portion of which has been used in paving
the May interest on the non-negotlaois school
bonds. In October another pay cnent of this in
terest is due. and these two with the deferred
payment paid last December. brings three pay
ments of interest on these bonds in the same
fiscal year. when the law provides that such in
terest shall be paid semi-annually. Another
fact of interest in connection with this ap pro-
priating of the revenues of year to pay the
interest and other demands that should have been
paid in the year preceding is that this mlsman-
agement, apply no term to it, caused
the Democratic Treasurer of State who retired
successor general fund balance of only $40, 900.
Four years before, the retiring Republican Treas
urer left with his Democratic successor a balance
in this fund of nearly $500, 600.
In 1885, the Democratic Treasurer of State
anticipated the revenues from counties by hav-
ing them pay before the settlements were due,
1851. 936 rs. In the year following the same
policy pursued, when $40. 900 paid in
advance by the counties. All this kept the gen.
eral fund in debt, and in it's embarrassed condi-
ton it was handed to the present officials
to do the best they could with it. AS IL the
burdens detailed were not enough the Democrats
shifted $271 900 in warrants allowed January a
year ago, to this years general fund. They
have been paid, but before the May money from
the counties ia available the fund will be as fat
IL was last week.